EXCITEMENT is building in the small town of Hepburn as the Central Highlands Football League grand final draws closer.
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Driving into the town, rows of blue and red balloons adorn picket fences and shop fronts, but it is at the town's primary school, with a footy being kicked around at recess, that true exhilaration can be seen.
The pupils at Hepburn Primary School just love footy.
It is a huge part of their lives, with many of the town's senior footballers, who will play in the grand final, community members.
One of the school's dads is Kenny Cummings, while Nathan Dunstan was a much-loved relief teacher at the school last year.
His brother Sam is also in the team.
Grade 4 pupils Tylar, Archer and Maddi have all been playing footy for two years, as has Grade 3 pupil Ali.
They usually play the game, with lots of rough and tumble, at recess and at lunchtime with the older Grade 5 and 6 pupils.
"It's really fun. It's fun when you get tackled and when you get muddy," Archer said.
They are all part of the Hepburn Burras' under-12s team, as are many of their classmates, who won the Central Highlands Football League's Lightning Premiership on Sunday April 28.
The talented team of youngsters played a stellar season, thrashing every team they took on.
The mighty Burras travelled to Waubra with more than 30 players to give each an opportunity to play on the ground.
The under-12s rounded up their season proud of the fact they were undefeated.
"Hepburn is the best team because it gives everyone a go," Tylar said. "They took all of us to the Lightning Premiership."
Maddi's dad, Peter Pedretti, is the team's coach. She is one of a handful of girls in the team and loves playing the game.
Becoming senior footballers themselves is something which many of the pupils aspire to down the track.
All of the young footballers are excited to watch the game with the bonus of having the opportunity to present the senior players their medals if they take home the cup.
Hepburn, who last won the grand final in 2017, beat Newlyn by 24-points in last week's thrilling preliminary final at Buninyong.
Fifth on the ladder, Hepburn is vying to become the first side to win the flag from outside the top four since the league established a top eight finals system back in 2011.
The grand final will be played at Mars Stadium on Saturday from 2.45pm.
In a big day for the club, the A, B and C-grade Hepburn netballers will also compete in the grand final on Saturday.
- With Tim O'Connor
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